Intraoperative Adverse Events and Related Postoperative Complications in Spine Surgery: Implications for Enhancing Patient Safety Founded on Evidence-Based Protocols

Adverse events can frequently occur during spinal surgery, however, the majority are not associated with complications, and preventative approaches to enhance patient safety can be developed.

Abstract

Adverse events can frequently occur (14%) during spinal surgery, however, the majority (76.5%) are not associated with complications. Improved patient safety can only be maximized by independent practice audit and the development of prospective methods to record adverse event data so that enhanced, evidence-based, clinical protocols can be developed.